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The Anime/manga thread (+ recommendations!)

Hello and welcome to the Anime/Manga thread. This originally started off on a whim by Shyukimai who was looking for recommendations, and I decided that it'd be a fun idea if I posted my long extensive list of manga recommendations (I'm more experienced with that than anime). This list isn't perfect and is mostly shaped by my opinions, and hopefully I'll get to editing it and making it easier to read in the near future. Since this is more of an edit and me taking over some posts (due to a 30 image per post limit), I'll try to keep the integrity of the original posts.

This thread in general though is for talking about anime and manga alike, and if you want, other graphic novels. We really aren't too picky around here, so don't be shy and join in the conversation.

Spoiler for Action:

Show

http://myanimelist.net/manga/2/BerserkBerserk
Guts, known as the Black Swordsman, seeks sanctuary from the demonic forces that pursue him and his woman, and also vengeance against the man who branded him as an unholy sacrifice. Aided only by his titanic strength, skill, and sword, Guts must struggle against his bleak destiny, all the while fighting with a rage that might strip him of his humanity. Berserk is a dark and brooding story of outrageous swordplay and ominous fate, in the theme of Shakespeare's Macbeth. (source: MAL)

A tragic, fantasy story about a man named Guts traveling around the lands in search to slay demons. While this is generally considered to be one of, if not the best manga ever created, I’d generally stay away from this one if you’re new to this medium. Berserk is definitely not your conventional manga; it contains some very grotesque scenes and deals with some mature themes. Once you get a better feel of manga in general, I strongly suggest returning to Berserk. You’ll open up to it with a much fresher mind and I guarantee you’ll be immersed into its fantastical world. It has a wide variety of characters that each has their strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. To a degree, almost every character has a level of depth. This mixed with its gritty art style and amazing world makes for one of the best adventure manga ever created.

I’d also recommend staying away from the anime. The anime isn’t bad at all, but the anime (and the movies) are essentially build ups to the manga, so you’ll end up reading the manga anyway if you get hooked onto the anime.

http://myanimelist.net/manga/25/Fullmetal_AlchemistFull Metal Alchemist
The rules of alchemy state that to gain something, one must lose something of equal value. Alchemy is the process of taking apart and reconstructing an object into a different entity, with the rules of alchemy to govern this procedure. However, there exists an object that can bring any alchemist above these rules, the object known as the Philosopher's Stone. The young Edward Elric is a particularly talented alchemist who through an accident years back lost his younger brother Alphonse and one of his legs. Sacrificing one of his arms as well, he used alchemy to bind his brother's soul to a suit of armor. This lead to the beginning of their journey to restore their bodies, in search for the legendary Philosopher's Stone. (source: MAL)

Full Metal Alchemist, or otherwise known as Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood in its anime adapted form, is one of the best manga out there. In fact, if you call yourself a manga fanatic, you should be ashamed of yourself if you haven’t read this yet. The story is about the Elric Brothers, a pair of alchemists who seek the Philosopher’s Stone in order to repair their broken bodies. Though the premise may sound simple, the plot quickly spirals down a path that interacts with characters that live in this magical steampunk world. I guarantee you’ll be hooked on immediately.

Status: Completed
Length: 108 chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/13/One_PieceOne Piece
Enter Monkey D. Luffy, a 17-year-old boy that defies your standard definition of a pirate. Rather than the popular persona of a wicked, hardened, toothless pirate who ransacks villages for fun, Luffy’s reason for being a pirate is one of pure wonder; the thought of an exciting adventure and meeting new and intriguing people, along with finding One Piece, are his reasons of becoming a pirate. Following in the footsteps of his childhood hero, Luffy and his crew travel across the Grand Line, experiencing crazy adventures, unveiling dark mysteries and battling strong enemies, all in order to reach One Piece. (source: MAL)

One Piece is an incredibly famous manga known as part of the big three, three manga that are considered the most popular actively updated manga at this time, the other two being Naruto and Bleach. In my opinion though? One Piece is vastly superior to both series. While all three have amazing action scenes, One Piece stands out by having a unique art style, wonderfully imaginative world, but more than anything else, a very creative and deep cast of characters. If you aren’t aware of the premise of One Piece, it’s about a pirate named Luffy who dreams of becoming the King of Pirates by finding the ultimate treasure, One Piece. Along the way, he gains friends and crew members who continue to join him and complete their own dreams that lay in wait in the expansive ocean. It’s a long story, but you’ll always love at least one character out of the whole bunch. One Piece truly is a rare gem.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Weekly
Length: 765 chapters (11/11/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/651/Kaz...ni_no_Nausicaa Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
A millennium has passed since "Seven Days of Fire," an apocalyptic war that almost wiped out human civilization. Since then, the earth is covered with an ever-growing "Sea of Corruption," a vast forest of fungi that secretes poisonous miasma and invasive spores, along with large and deadly insects inhabit within.

In order to fight for more habitable lands unpolluted by the Sea of Corruption, the Kingdom of Torumekia has declared war against the Dorok Empire. Nausicaä, princess and heir of a small city-state named "Valley of the Wind" which pledged alliance with Torumekia, is now forced to join Torumekian to invade Dorok Empire. This war will change her life and the fate of human race forever. (Source: ANN)

If you actually have heard of Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, the chances are you’ve probably seen or at least heard of it as one of Hayao Miyazaki’s (creator of Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro) works. Even then, it’s not very well-known. Which is a shame, because this manga is definitely completely underrated, not to mention some people shave it off assuming that it’s basically the manga form of the movie.

It’s not.

It’s a story about a princess named Nausicaa who interacts with the world around her, a world affected by the torrents of war and the forces of nature. It’s very much a violent story that deals with mature themes between nature and at even some points about religion itself. It’s even strange at some parts and incredibly violent, but the story is unique and engaging. It’s easily one of those manga where, after reading it, you may have a different view of what the genre is capable of. If you’re familiar with one of Miyazaki’s more famous works, Princess Mononoke, you may see some recurring themes that were possibly inspired off of this story.

Status: Completed
Length: 57 chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=3285Holyland
Holyland is a story about Yuu, a weak boy who feels alone and has no sense of beloning. His only solace he finds is wandering around the city streets of his town. Of course this means he’d attract some other unwanted attention. This is a story of a boy protecting the thing that means everything to him, the place where he finally feels that he belongs, his Holyland.

Now I don’t want to spoil anything, because not knowing too many details is the best way to approach this manga. I’ve read a lot of different manga before, but Holyland probably has one of the most intriguing chapters of opening up a manga that I’ve seen in a long time. This hard, gritty manga is great, and if you can get past the angst that the main character has, I believe you’ll definitely have a good time with this.

http://myanimelist.net/manga/33327/Tokyo_GhoulTokyo Ghoul
Ghouls roam around the cities of Tokyo. It’s said that they hunt around, looking for humans as their next meal. Kaneki and his buddy Hide has never seen one though, but that all might change…

So first things first: THE ANIME IS COMPLETE SHIT COMPARED TO THIS. The manga is pretty good, the anime butchers so many things from the manga it’s ridiculous. I should mention that Tokyo Ghoul isn’t the second coming of Berserk, that’s just saying how bad the anime is.

Now moving on, Tokyo Ghoul is a surprising manga. Why? Because at first glance, the plot may seem somewhat typical. A human turning into a monster that he’s afraid of? It’s a plotline that you see every now and then. What set Tokyo Ghoul apart are several things. First, it makes the integration of the human into this new world as realistically as it possibly can. The art is rough, hard, and dark and fits the mood excellently. The characters themselves are solid, but not flawed; each goes through their own development as they grow up. The action scenes are beautifully drawn, and the emotions that are shown through facials expressions are vividly made. It is a very, well-written, well-drawn manga, and many elements of this were lost in its transition to its anime form. I strongly suggest dropping the anime if you have not completed it and reading this instead, or, if you’ve already watched Tokyo Ghoul, re-read this manga. You may have a different outlook on the series.

If you want to look more into this series, check out its ongoing sequel, Tokyo Ghoul: re.

Status: Completed
Length: 144 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/642/Vinland_SagaVinland Saga
Taking place during the era of Vikings, Thorfinn is one of the youngest yet fiercest fighters around. However, after his father is killed by mercenary Askeladd, he swore revenge. However, while seeking vengeance, he is caught up in the Great War for the British crown.

One quarter coming of age and three quarters action, Vinland Saga has much to boast about in terms of dialogue, characters, and action. If you are a fan of titles like Berserk and Vagabond, you will feel very comfortable with Vinland Saga’s ballad.

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=44347One Punch-Man
In the distant future, monsters roam around and threaten the peaceful lives of innocent human citizens. As a response, the government has created the Heroes Association, a system of heroes that serve to fight against such foreign invaders. Meanwhile, in the deep suburbs of Z-City, there lives a rumored man named Saitama who has strength so unimaginable he can end fights in one punch…

Originally based off the internet webtoon One Punch-Man (ONE), One Punch-Man is definitely a series not to be taken seriously. With its silly antics and characters and somewhat of a troll artist, you’ll notice immediately what kind of manga this is. That being said, the action, art, and characters are so over the top and exaggerated that it’s so lovable and awesome. It’s difficult to not keep up with such an addicting manga, and with its humor, gorgeous art, and action, you’ll want to read more.
However, it does update slowly and the pages are few in number. If you want to read the original story at the expense of much lower quality of art, read One Punch-Man (ONE).

http://myanimelist.net/manga/23390/Shingeki_no_KyojinShingeki no Kyojin/Attack on Titan
This is a world where Humans are no longer the dominant race. Instead, grotesque, gargantuan Titans roam around the world while the last remnants of humanity lie behind their last bastion in a tiny part of their world. Teenager Eren and his friends Mikasa and Armin grew behind these walls and have never seen the outside world. While they dream, they hope that their remaining days will go on peacefully. That all changes when they suddenly here a magnificent shadow bears down into the city…

If you haven’t been living under a rock, chances are you’ve at least heard of Shingeki no Kyojin, or otherwise known better in its English name, Attack on Titan. In my experience, Shingeki no Kyojin is one of the few very popular manga that I believe still holds great quality. It has a gripping plot and gritty art style that matches its mood. It’s not afraid to show blood when it needs to, and it’s a great deviation from the normal “zombie” type manga that you may see often. The enemies and the methodology in fighting such creatures is a breath a fresh air and creative. Probably one of Shingeki no Kyojin’s greatest strengths are making no character feel immortal. Every character is susceptible to die in this kind of world. It’s great that this manga gets attention though admittedly it does get a bit too much attention. Regardless, it’s a very solid piece

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Monthly
Length: 63 Chapters (11/11/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/25132/Akame_ga_Kill!Akame ga Kill!
Tatsumi is a skilled swordsman, but he knows that his skill is useless in saving his poverty stricken village unless he goes out to make some money of his own. He seeks out the big city only to find that corruption runs among through the rankings of the empire. Overwhelmed by its sights and sounds, Tatsumi takes refuge in the night. Meanwhile, an assassination organization working for the rebels are looking for the next target, but it looks like they’re recruiting too.

At first glance, Akame ga Kill is nothing special. You have a somewhat decently skilled protagonist that is recruited by an organization that fights evil. While initially the story drags on for a bit, the world quickly expands into a world that isn’t so black and white as it seems. Akame ga Kill explores the sides of good and evil and isn’t afraid to shed some blood to show its point. However, one of Akame ga Kill’s strongest points is to make it feel that absolutely no character is free from danger at any moment. Be it good guy or bad, no character is safe from death. This theme ties in with the suspense. You’ll find yourself connecting to some characters and by that little thread of hope you might convince yourself maybe, just maybe, that character you love may live to see another day.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Monthly
Length: 52 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/26/Hunter_x_HunterHunter x Hunter
What is a Hunter? Well, they’re a talented bunch. They seek the world’s most remote treasures, fight against the most dangerous and unknown creatures, they explore lands far and wide. Their talents are limitless. Gon isn’t one yet though, but after learning that his missing father is one of the many who hold the honor of being called a Hunter, it seems that such a path is truly destined for him.

One thing you have to know about Hunter x Hunter is that it’s surprisingly bloody and violent. There are a wide range of characters that Gon meets throughout is journey, and each one is talented in their own right. HxH introduces a world that mixes fantasy with the gritty politics of life, and it does a good job of making each seem as grotesque as possible. That being said, it’s hard not to be caught up in such an original plot like HxH. It does some truly new and strange things, so at the very least you’ll see something new.

The second thing you need to know is that HxH updates pretty slowly, though it seems to be picking up the pace nowadays.

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=583Claymore
Monsters roam around the lands of the humans. They eat them, but they hide in the shadows, hiding among the public. Raku knows this, but without the power to detect them, he is helpless to free his village from the monsters’ insatiable appetites. One day, a woman named Claire arrives at their village. She seems to be one of the silver-eyed witches that Raku has heard from the stories. A Claymore.

Like manga such as Berserk, Claymore mixes a medieval styled setting with a world of monsters. While Claymore, doesn’t particularly shine in terms of character development, it has a very solid progression of both plot and action. It’s engaging, and while it lacks in character development, the characters themselves are attractive and interesting. I highly recommend this one because it gives a unique storyline that few manga seem to do well.

Status: Completed
Length: 159 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/8586/The_BreakerThe BreakerNote: This is not a manga, it is a manhwa, what is commonly known as the Korean counterpart to Japan’s manga. Keep that in mind while reading as you may spot some cultural differences you may not be used to seeing.

Shioon is a victim of constantly bullying at his school. He’s not much of an athlete, and he’s powerless to fight back. One day, a new English teacher, Chun-woo, is admitted to the staff. After a coincidence where Shioon witnesses Chun-woo’s unmatched martial arts ability, Shioon begs him to become his disciple. Thus begins Shioon’s great journey to become a man and protect what’s most precious to him.

First things first, The Breaker is a very action heavy manga despite being a coming of age story, and while Shioon is the main character, a large part of the story also focuses on his teacher, Chun-woo. With that out of the way, if you are familiar with manhwa, you may recognize The Breaker as it’s commonly known as the best and most popular manhwa out there. And where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Unlike most coming of age action stories, The Breaker manages to pull the genre off in an interesting way without putting too much spotlight on the main character himself. In addition, Shioon doesn’t improve at a ridiculous rate without explanation. It’s a nicely paced story that doesn’t feel too overwhelming, and it’s a great introduction into the manhwa universe. If you do read this manhwa and wish to read more, you may be interested in reading its ongoing sequel, The Breaker: New Waves.

Status: Completed
Length: 72 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/10010/BeelzebubBeelzebub
Oga Tatsumi is known as the strongest juvenile delinquent among several schools. Wherever he goes, he leaves a path of carnage behind him. Detecting his evil nature, a man floats up to him on a river bank where he was sleeping and drops a baby boy. The baby boy is revealed to be the next demon king, and it is up to Oga to raise the baby to be the next demon lord. The adventure of Oga and his baby, Beelzebub begins!

Those who are familiar with Beelzebub may claim that Beelzebub better fits under a comedy tag. And there’s a lot of truth to that! Beelzebub is downright one of the most hilarious manga out there right now. It doesn’t really take itself too seriously, and the action and characters are so completely over the top that you just can’t help but laugh at the scenarios. However, Beelzebub also shares some noticeable action elements that become central to its story and development. Beelzebub is a rather healthy combination of the two and is definitely a manga that everyone should check out.

If you want to look more into Beelzebub, check out its ongoing sequel/side story, Beelzebub: Banghai-hen.

Status: Completed
Length: 246 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/29983/NoblesseNoblesseNote: This type of graphic novel is referred to as a webtoon, which itself is a type of manhwa, Korea’s counterpart to Japan’s manga. Unlike manga and typical manhwa, webtoons are not hand drawn; they are instead drawn using computer programs. As a result, the art styles may look more digitized and they will almost always appear in color.

Deep in the city of Seoul, there lies a coffin that has laid dormant. One day, it mysteriously opens out of the blue. The vampire Rai finally awakes after centuries of sleep as he is released into the unfamiliar modern day world.

Webtoons are an increasingly popular form of manhwa, but there are some noticeable cultural and art differences between webtoons and both manga and traditional manhwa. In my opinion, Noblesse is not amazing. It’s the rough equivalent to manga typical to Japan’s shounen genre. That being said, I think it’s a great gateway piece into the field have webtoons and I strongly suggest giving it a try. And while it is shounen, it still has great art, fight scenes, and humor. Those who are fans of other shounen manga like Fairy Tail, One Piece, and Naruto will definitely enjoy Noblesse.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Weekly
Length: 345 Chapters (11/11/14)

This comic does not have a MAL link.Tower of GodNote: This type of graphic novel is referred to as a webtoon, which itself is a type of manhwa, Korea’s counterpart to Japan’s manga. Unlike manga and typical manhwa, webtoons are not hand drawn; they are instead drawn using computer programs. As a result, the art styles may look more digitized and they will almost always appear in color.

What is it that you desire? Fortune? Fame? Power? Or perhaps something much more. All your wishes can come true in this place. The Tower of God.

Tower of God is a true example of the type of quality webtoons can acheive. ToG has a huge pool of characters, each with a unique quirk and characteristic. The Tower itself is massive, deep, and overwhelming, just like how the plot suggests. The development, though slow, is effective and engaging to the readers, and the art can be gorgeous. If you ever plan to take webtoons seriously, Tower of God should be your go-to source.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Weekly
Length: 208 Chapters (12/10/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=74Air Gear
The age of skateboarding is over. Now there’s a new utility that roams around the country, Air trek, the ultimate roller blades that allow you to zoom and fly across the skies. Itsuki though has never really been interested in them. He’s always been known as the strongest in the area, some blades are just a waste of time. That is, until he gets his butt handed to him by some AT users. That one moment would soon begin to spark a huge change in history…

If you’re reading this synopsis, the first thing you may think of is “Huh, this sounds like a sports manga!” Well, it isn’t. It seems practically set up with it, right? But don’t be fooled, Air Gear is very action heavy. The author uses his imagination to spin fights using simple roller blades into really insane weapons, and even if those weapons are disgustingly unrealistic, there’s so much power behind them it’s enough to be convincing. Air Gear isn’t a perfectly spun series, but it’s obscure, weird humor mixed with its exaggerated action makes for an unexpectedly great story.

Status: Completed
Length: 358 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=12586Cage of Eden
Everything seemed to be going just fine for Akira. Their whole class was just returning from a trip in Okinawa, and they were ready for the ride home. Until suddenly, the plane malfunctions and a black cloud engulfs the vehicle. Akira wakes up to find himself alone, in a lush forest filled with prehistoric creatures…

In my opinion, Cage of Eden was a diamond in the rough. There were a lot of areas where Cage of Eden could’ve shined to become something much more valuable. But that doesn’t change the fact that all-in-all, Cage of Eden is an incredibly solid and well-done survival horror manga. In some ways, it may remind you of “Lord of Flies with a little bit of Lost” (quoted from Hewitt). Don’t go into Cage of Eden expecting a masterpiece, read Cage of Eden as a suspenseful and thrilling manga at its heart.

Status: Completed
Length: 185 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=20593Btooom!
Ryuuta is what you’d call a shut-in; he’s 22 years old and unemployed and all he does is play his favorite game Btooom all day. It’s a computer game centralized on using bombs and strategy to achieve victory, a game fitting for Ryuuta himself. One day he wakes up on an island with no recollection of how he got there. He notices he has a bag with him that he’s never seen before. In the bag lies a myriad of bombs…

Btooom is an interesting twist from the usual “help I’m stuck in a video game” type story (*cough* Sword Art Online *cough*). Instead of having characters and a system that’s entirely reliant on a computerized setting and control, Btooom utilizes a real world setting and the natural abilities of the gamer itself. Because of this, Btooom is not restrained by a system of game mechanics but only by the fact that the only weapon of choice is a variety of bombs. In essence, Btooom excels at having an original setting and story; mix this with a cast of interesting characters of you have one hell of a ride.
Some input from Hewitt:

Originally Posted by Hewitt

If anything Btoom is the one with Battle Royale qualities, that's actually played for realism instead of drama. I barely noticed the game elements and they are in fact used as a plot coupon rather than a blatant framing device other game-anime/manga seem to do.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Monthly
Length: 185 Chapters (11/11/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/3866/KuroshitsujiKuroshitsuji
In the Victorian Age in Great Britain, there is a rumored family that stands behind the Queen: the Phantomhive family. They dirty their hands where the Queen cannot. Ciel is a member of this distinguished family, and his prowess in such dark corners proves his stature. But he is constantly served by a mysterious black butler. One of hell of a butler to be exact.

Kuroshitsuji, or sometimes known better as Black Butler, is difficult to put under a single genre.
At heart though, Kuroshituji has a very interesting setting and plot. It’s one of the few manga that actually uses the Victorian Era as a setting and manages to pull it off effectively. Not only are subtle references made to actual events that happened during that time, the manga also makes some major ties with the actual adventures of the Ciel and his butler, Sebastian. Think of it as Downton Abbey, but a much darker and less sentimental version. The cast of characters are surprisingly unique and original. One thing’s for certain though; Kuroshitsuji easily has one of the most interesting and engaging settings of all manga.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Monthly
Length: 98 Chapters (11/11/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/39139Apocalypse no Toride
Hypothetical: What if you were framed for a murder? What if you were sent to a prison with a life sentence? What if your inmates were all the worst cutthroats in prison? Seems bad enough. But what would you do if zombies attacked?

Apocalypse no Toride’s biggest flaw is that it might not seem appealing at first. Its intro and first quarter of the series is a bit bad compared to the rest of the series. But after you get that part, you may find yourself enjoying Apocalypse no Toride quite a bit. You have simple yet mildly interesting characters early on, but that slowly develops into something much bigger. The manga also creates zombies that are a bit more unique than the average ones you find, and as a result they a play a larger part of the story. Apocalypse no Toride isn’t the best manga, but so far it has been developing quite nicely and I believe that quite a few people who are looking for enjoyment will find it in this manga.

http://myanimelist.net/manga/1076/AresAresNote: This is not a manga, it is a manhwa, what is commonly known as the Korean counterpart to Japan’s manga. Keep that in mind while reading as you may spot some cultural differences you may not be used to seeing.

It’s the warring era of the Middle Ages and Chronos’ long dominance is starting to fall into decline. It is an era looking for heroes and those who are more powerful than any warrior. One day, three boys, Ares, Michael, and Baroona meet each other at a mercenary try-out. Their meeting would soon spark a major change in history that even the heavens would call their names.

So if you’re a fan of Vinland Saga and Kingdom, there’s a strong chance that you will enjoy Ares. They have relatively similar stories, and their settings are very similar. Aside from that, there really isn’t much to say about it. It’s a relatively simple story, but the characters, the fights, and the relationships push this manhwa forward. It is in my opinion one of the better manhwas out there.

Status: Completed
Length: 207 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/564/GantzGantz
Thought life was bad? Well as it turns out, death is even worse. Kei Kurono found that out the hard way when he and his friend Masaru died in a train accident. Now he must fight aliens that invade the earth for a chance at survival and ultimately regain his place on Earth.

Gantz is commonly known as a classic among those who read manga, and once you start reading it, you’ll probably realize why. Gantz has a very original and unique plot, the art is absolutely gorgeous, it is bloody, crude, and suggestive in many ways, but it all ties it together to make it into a surprisingly believable story. Gantz is incredibly grotesque and insanely violent, but it has sense of coherence that makes the manga very enjoyable. It certainly isn’t for everyone, but I implore you to give it a chance.

Status: Completed
Length: 383 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/1101/AkumetsuAkumetsu
Japan’s government is a corrupt mess. Everything is run by corporate sleazebags and scummy politicians. In the hands of these people, the public is under the mercy of their influence and the lives where they’ve built up until the point are crushed on a whim. Nagasawa Shiina knows this all too well since her father’s company went bankrupt, and in order to save her father, she sells her body to the dirty politicians. Suddenly, a figure in a mask breaks in wielding an axe. And it’s someone that Shiina knows. This is a story about justice and one man’s pledge to use his own method to save those who have suffered under Japan’s government.

For a long time, I thought Akumetsu was the best thing since sliced bread. When I first got into manga, like everyone else I read Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece. Akumetsu served as the bridge between the beginner’s manga and the whole new library of manga I’ve never touched upon before. As such, Akumetsu holds a special place in my heart.

With that out of the way, I’ll say this. To those who expect a masterpiece, Akumetsu certainly has some noticeable flaws. There’s some wasted potential, and the cast may be considered as too black and white. That being said, Akumetsu is really an original and daring manga. It’s one that challenges the typical conventions and plot lines that a lot of manga follow, and it even has the balls to make an entire government its enemy. It’s a bloody, serious manga that uses violence as an answer to show a point. That is why Akumetsu, among other thriller manga, stands out.

Status: Completed
Length: 162 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/142/Battle_RoyaleBattle Royale
In an attempt to control and subjugate the rebellious teenagers, every year since 1947, the Japanese government selects a class of third-year high school students to be placed in the ultimate survival game. Each student is given a single weapon and is released in an enclosed area. The rules? Simple. In order to win, you must be the last one standing.

If you’ve ever heard of Battle Royale, you’ve probably heard about it in its movie form. The Japanese movie itself has earned a popular cult following internationally despite being banned in many countries for several months. What quite a few people don’t know is that Battle Royale initially started off as novel and then a manga. This is that manga. I have watched the movie, read the book, and read the manga, and I can say that enjoyed the manga the most. The art, facial expressions, the blood and gore: all of that is amazingly executed in the manga and can’t be matched by that of either the novel or the 122 minute movie. The drawing direction sets a mood and intensity that creates a great atmosphere when reading Battle Royale. With that said, if you’ve watched the movie, I highly suggest reading the manga.

If you’re unfamiliar with Battle Royale as a whole, you might think it’s a rip-off of the popular fictional novel, Hunger Games. Trust me when I say that Battle Royale is on a completely different level.

Status: Completed
Length: 119 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/928/Pok%C3%A9mon_SpecialPokemon Adventures
This really needs no introduction. Everyone knows Pokemon right? If you’ve never heard of Pokemon Adventures, you might assume that this is essentially a manga adaptation of the anime. And that’s exactly that reason why I wanted to put this manga here, despite it not being an award-winning piece of work. Long story short, it’s not. The plot initially follows Red, the protagonist of the Generation 1 of Pokemon games, Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow. In his journey, he goes through many trials and tribulations trying to become the ultimate trainer. Aside from Red, there are other main characters that the manga follows as well. Each of these main characters is named after the games of their respective generations. For example, Red is the main protagonist, and Green, who you may know looks like Gary from the anime, is another.

However, the adventures don’t end with simply Generation 1. The manga continues to spur through each generation and personifying the once silent protagonists from their games. Now, Gold, the male protagonist of Generation 2, is a pompous trainer who confidently strives to the top. Sapphire, the female protagonist from Generation 3, is a complete tomboy who stomps on those who look down on her. Diamond, the male protagonist from Generation 4, is lax and lazy boy yet protects those who are precious to him.

But what’s most surprising about Pokemon Adventures is its surprising ability to turn all of these stories into one coherent plot and still make it interesting. In a sense, Pokemon Adventures is essentially its own twist of the Pokemon universe and, if you’ve ever been a fan of Pokemon, the view is very attractive. The protagonists from each Generation are simply referred to as “the Pokedex holders,” a kind of name and stature that makes these characters seem special. The plots aren’t incredibly cheesy; they still hold a sense of maturity that the anime completely lacks. Pokemon Adventures is a solid manga in its own right without having to rely on the universe of Pokemon to help its fame. If anything, the universe of Pokemon is further bolstered by the imagination of the manga itself.

Phew, this was a long one. It’s not that I prefer this one over others, but I needed to clear any particular misunderstandings and assumptions people might have after looking at the title. It’s not the best manga, but I bet many would enjoy it.

If you have trouble searching for this piece, this manga may also go under the name, Pokemon Special.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: ???
Length: 400+ Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/16765/KingdomKingdom
It is the time of the warring states of China. It is a time where sweat is dropped, tears are wept, and blood is spilled. It is a time when only the greatest of generals can conquer those they face and those who dare challenge them. In that time, there lie two slaves in a field. In their free time, they grab their hand-crafted wooden swords to spar. With each strike, their wooden swords give off a resounding sound of cold steel that reverberates through their bodies. It is with each strike that emotions are transferred and their feelings are shared. And it is with each strike where they pledge to each other that they will become the greatest generals the world has ever seen.

For a while, my favorite manga was One Piece. At one point, it was Akumetsu. Then it was Bokurano, then 20th Century Boys. Now, I can say that Kingdom is currently my favorite manga, and if you read it you may see why. Kingdom has a relatively simple plot. Two boys, named Hyou and Xin, dream on becoming the greatest generals in China. Now this is a simple objective, but the entirety of Kingdom is built upon the foundation of that dream, and it’s by using that one ambition that it’s able to pull actions and emotions that would otherwise be practically non-existent. Kingdom succeeds in what many manga fail to have acheived. It’s an ultimate objective and a clear sense of direction of where the manga is going. Kingdom uses this simple objective to create personas in the main character so clearly defined and emphasized where you can almost empathize with their emotions. The sake of fulfilling a promise and a dream is so heavily brought forth in this manga, and it’s by those emotions that build a powerful, touching story like Kingdom.

http://myanimelist.net/manga/869/Konjiki_no_Gash!!Zatch Bell
Takamine has always been hailed as a genius, but he’s always bored and unsatisfied with the direction of life he’s taking. Enter Gash, a demon who claims to be involved in a worldwide battle royale for the thrown of the demon king. The catch? Every demon must find a human owner to command him. Takamine has just entered the battle that would change his life forever.

First things first, Zatch Bell is first and foremost a shounen manga. It’s also an intimidating 323 chapters long, so if you’re not into that kind of stuff, I’d recommend staying away from Zatch Bell. However, if you enjoy pieces like Bleach or Naruto, then you will without a doubt enjoy this one. Zatch Bell was one of the first few manga that I’ve read, and to be honest a lot of my experiences with it I still remember today. It’s an incredibly fun battle manga and more than anything it feels new and fresh, even by today’s standards. The art direction, the demon designs in particular, are very unique and different compared to your normal manga art, which definitely helps the manga get by. All in all, Zatch Bell is a solid piece and just a great read. Anyone who wants to let their minds loose should just read Zatch Bell. In a sense, it’s like a less violent Battle Royale/Pokemon hybrid. You can’t go wrong with that, can you?

Status: Completed
Length: 323 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/anime/246/Groove_Adventure_RaveRave
It’s a new age of humanity, and the new world organization Demon Card has taken hold. With the power of the Dark Brings, they pose an enormous threat to the tranquility of the world. The only powers capable of defeating the dark brings are the Rave stones, but they are scattered across the world and only the true Rave master can wield them. Meanwhile, sixteen-year old boy Haru Glory peacefully enjoy his days on the remote Garage Island…

Before Fairy Tail became a thing, Rave was this author’s pride and joy, and if you read it you can see how many similarities there are between Rave and Fairy Tail. However, it’s my honest opinion to state that Rave is much better than Fairy Tail (although at this point that might not really be saying much). Unlike Fairy Tail, Rave has a designated goal and objective; the story doesn’t feel like it’s dragging on forever, nor does it digress into needless time-skips in order to forward the plot. It is, by its heart, a natural fighting shounen manga. Like Zatch Bell, if you’re not in the mood for Shounen manga, avoid Rave like the plague. That doesn’t mean that Rave is by any means bad though, and it’s still quite an enjoyable read. It’s also an interesting read for those interested in looking into a piece of work that is in a lot of ways the predecessor to Fairy Tail.

Status: Completed
Length: 298 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/53/Yu_Yu_HakushoYu Yu Hakusho
Oh Yusuke, he’s deemed to have such an unfortunate life. At the very least however, he is one of the most feared delinquents around, and no one wants to mess with him. But Yusuke finally realizes how unlucky he is when his life ends in a tragic car accident…

This review is geared more towards those who are new to manga. Why? Because, let’s be honest, who here hasn’t heard/read Yu Yu Hakusho? It’s a classic among fighting manga. For that reason alone, I think those who have never bothered with this manga before should give it a try.

Status: Completed
Length: 175 Chapters

Original Post by Shyukimai:

The anime thread... where tf is it? I need new animes to watch. (Suggestions really)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/664/AkiraAkira
It’s the year 2019, and it seems as if the future has moved far too fast. It’s not too fast for Kaneda though who gets off on high-speed racing on his motorcycle on the streets of Neo-Tokyo. However, Kaneda and Tetsuo get involved in a seemingly simple biking accident that soon involves them in a chain-reaction that threatens the future and safety of the entire human race.

Okay, I know I ranted about Akira and I myself don’t find it that enjoyable. However, it seems that lots of others don’t share my opinion. And they’re not totally wrong by thinking that; despite my dislike for this manga, Akira does present a robust and extremely detailed setting for a manga written in 1988, and its plot for the most part is engaging to most readers. Akira is one of the major precursors to the sci-fi genre in general, and while I may not have enjoyed Akira, it is entirely possible that you may see Akira under a different, more positive light.

Status: Completed
Length: 87 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=48151World Trigger
A mysterious gate opened up in Tokyo many years ago, unleashing monsters that threaten the peace and safety of the world. As a countermeasure, the government had started a self-defense program to combat these creatures and keep the world from being utterly obliterated.

I’ll be the first to admit that World Trigger has its fair share of flaws. It has a lingering problem of both character development and most of all character focus. The author constantly creates a slew of characters, so much to the point where you can’t help but feel overwhelmed, and the pacing of main character’s development can be irksome. That aside, I still think that World Trigger deserves a recommendation and the reason is that it does something that many action manga do wrong. Action manga have to have at least three qualities: an interesting character, great development in both character and power, and choreographed and believable fight scenes. Even amongst good action manga, many seem to have the first two qualities but often fall short of executing the third properly. This is the difference with World Trigger. While it’s not notable in some of the first few battles, many of the fight scenes are brilliantly executed. Very few rely on stupid plot devices like “the power of friendship,” each fight is won or lost in a series of strategies and methods. In fact, World Trigger focuses much more on the fundamentals of battles rather than the power of certain weapons, and when it focuses on the latter, it does well in incorporating them in creative ways. In short, World Trigger lacks positive qualities in its character department, but it excels in its action scenes. It should be noted that World Trigger isn’t even finished yet (at the time of this review) and it’s still relatively early in its story. Perhaps in the future, World Trigger might become something much more than it is now, and it’s shaping up to seem like it.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Weekly (usually)
Length: 77 chapters (11/20/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/24692/NoragamiNoragami
A god is someone who we love and someone who we hate. It’s someone born out of our emotions and desires, and they seemingly influence even the little things in your life. So when some teenage looking boy meets you in the girl’s restroom and says, “Delighted, I am God,” how do you react?

I initially saw Noragami as your usual typical action manga that uses spirits and the ability to see ghosts as its central theme like many other manga do (Bleach, xxxholic, many more that you probably haven’t heard of because they sucked). I can honestly say I was unfair to Noragami after I gave it a chance. Despite introducing a seemingly redundant world, the later chapters flesh out each aspect of the setting into something much larger and greater, creating an interesting base for the story to start on. The characters too slowly become more developed over time, and even characters you find annoying eventually may find a place in your heart. Noragami isn’t all brainless action, it also has many aspects of your normal, relaxing slice of life genre. Noragami combines a healthy amount of both action and slice of life themes, and with the help of a creative setting, it becomes a surprisingly enjoyable experience.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Monthly
Length: 44 Chapters (11/20/14)

Spoiler for Thriller:

Show

http://myanimelist.net/manga/3/20th_Century_Boys20th Century Boys
It’s almost the 21st century now. It’s the start of new hopes, new dreams, and new lives. But no matter how far you run, the past will always come back to haunt you. This is the story of a group of boys who put their hopes, dreams, and lives at stake in order to save the world.

If you’ve ever heard of 20th Century Boys, chances are you heard of it because it’s considered a classic. And it is! It’s one of the most brilliantly told stories in its entire medium, and just one of the best stories ever told period. You may be overwhelmed at first since it jumps quite often from the past and the present, but if you can get past that you’re in for a mind-blowing experience. Once you finish 20th Century Boys, don’t forget to read it’s epilogue, 21st Century Boys.

Status: Completed
Length: 249 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/21/Death_NoteDeath Note
Light Yagami is bored. Not only is he a great athlete, but he also has achieved perfect scores in all the national exams. One day, after walking out of school, he comes across a notebook labeled “Death Note.” On the jacket flap, it says the following: "The human whose name is written in the notebook shall die."

Let’s be honest here; you’ve probably already read this. And if you’ve read this, the chances are this is probably what got you into anime and manga in the first place. To those who haven’t read this, that should be enough of a hint to tell you this: go read it. Now.

Status: Completed
Length: 108 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/1649/Liar_GameLiar Game
Nao is probably the most honest person you can find in this world. She’s gullible, honest, and just about the most compassionate person you’ll ever know. One day, a package arrives at her home. The package contains a hundred million yen and a message that forces you to participate in a game: deceiving your opponent who also shares a hundred million yen means you’ll receive every coin. But losing the game means that you’ll be in debt by the same amount that you lost. Panicking, Nao seeks Akiyama, one of the most famous swindlers of Japan.

Liar Game is one of the staple titles when it comes to thrillers and mysteries in the manga medium. Chances are, if you’ve ever read manga like Gamble Fish, they were most likely inspired by Liar Game. It’s also spun a live-action drama which I heard isn’t actually half bad.

Dragon Head is an absolutely criminally underrated manga. It’s not a classic by any means, but it’s a really solid work and introduces a very intriguing and interesting “if” setting. I’m wagering to believe that most of you have never heard of Dragon Head let alone have read it, but it’s something that gives you the chills when you read it.

Status: Completed
Length: 89 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/14440/I_Am_a_HeroI am a Hero
Hideo Suzuki is a working mangaka, but he just can’t seem to get his big break. As the days go by as Suzuki spends time writing his works and hanging out with his girlfriend, his life moves into a lull. In a response to this, the world seemed to make its last cruel joke.

Among typical shounen manga like High School of the Dead where boobs defy physics and fan service has been redefined, I am a Hero rises up to be, in my opinion, the premiere zombie manga. Unlike Apocalypse no Toride, which, despite being a zombie manga, is placed in the action section, I am a Hero deals much more with human relationships in the face of a foreign threat. Of course, there’s a lot of action involved too, so if you’re into that kind of stuff I am a Hero is the right medicine.
Here’s what Hewitt has to say (he probably said it better than I did):

Originally Posted by Hewitt

And about I Am A Hero, I think what's mostly appealing about it is that the story takes place in the eyes of the Everyman. He's not a kid who's destiny is shoved upon him or a self-righteous hero wannabe, but a guy who's trying to survive with as little shennanigans as possible. It's also pretty realistic (or one would say a deconstruction of the zombie genre), and shows how humans truly act when this thing happens, especially now in the age of Internet and globalization. The current Hot Spring Arc is actually a perfect example, if not taking it over-the-top at some points. It's also pretty damn funny (the protagonist aims to kill all the zombies for a promise of having a mixed bath with 2 girls).

Status: Ongoing
Rate: ???
Length: 167 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=39325Boku dake ga Inai Machi
Fujinama is a struggling manga writer. He just seems to have a never-ending case of writers block. He does, however, have this strange ability to “notice things.” And this strange ability forces him to help people, whether he likes it or not.

Oh, so does this manga sound like a slice of life for you? It sure sounds like it, and after reading the first few chapters, I thought the same. Oh boy, was I wrong! And I was happy that I was wrong, because upon further reading this piece, it’s one of the most promising manga out there. It’s relatively new, but it has won the Manga Taishoo Award 2014, so that should be a good enough reason to read it.

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=23271Destroy and Revolution
Makoto is alone and friendless. He has always felt out of place and has never found himself to be anything special. For some reason, this exact quality brings the attention of the most popular guy in school, Yuki. But Yuki absolutely hates the world. If possible, he wants to bring everyone to their knees. What Makoto knows and what Yuki shortly finds out, Makoto may have the ability to make that dream come true.

I actually recently found this one, and while it’s nothing revolutionary, I thought it was a rather interesting premise. It’s one of those stories where the protagonists are the criminals, and I always find those a lot of fun. Destroy and Revolution is a solid and overall well-done example of this genre, and while it does lull around the middle, it is still a rather enjoyable manga.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: ???
Length: 53 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/1/MonsterMonster
Monster weaves the riveting story of brilliant Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a famous surgeon with a promising career at a leading hospital. Tenma risks his reputation and promising career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy. Unbeknownst to him, this child is destined for a terrible fate. A string of strange and mysterious murders begin to occur soon afterward, ones that professionally benefit Dr. Tenma, and he emerges as the primary suspect. Conspiracies, serial murders, and a scathing depiction of the underbelly of hospital politics are all masterfully woven together in this compelling manga thriller. The series won an Excellence Prize at the 1997 Japan Media Arts Festival and the Shogakukan Manga Award in 2001. (source: kissmanga.com)

Confession: I’ll be the first to say that I’ve actually never read Monster before, not because I don’t want to, but because I want to watch the show which I’ve heard is equally amazing. Anyway, I’ve only heard phenomenal things about Monster, so you’d be as bad as me if you ignore this brilliant piece of fiction. It often competes with 20th Century Boys in that regard, and if your manga is competing with that, you know you wrote something amazing.

Status: Completed
Length: 162 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/22031/EnigmaEnigma
Haiba Sumio is a regular guy. Well, at least regular in the sense that whenever he sleeps, he unconsciously writes about future premonitions. But other than that, Sumio is just your regular, overly positive guy who loves helping others out. But good things don’t always happen to good people…

Hewitt was actually the first one to introduce Enigma to me, and I actually enjoyed it despite having an unusual mixture of thriller and shounen-esque atmospheres. It’s confusing at first, but it’s one of those manga that you grow to appreciate over time. I’d definitely recommend it, especially since it’s not that long of a read.

Status: Completed
Length: 56 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/745/PlutoPluto
Europol detective Gesicht tries to uncover the mysteries behind the recent human and robot murders. What becomes even stranger is that if everything is as it seems, a robot may have actually killed a human, connecting to a case that occurred over eight years ago…

This piece of fiction is from the same guy who wrote 20th Century Boys. That should be enough to tell you that this bad boy is really good. What’s interesting about Pluto though is that it’s actually not a completely original story. It’s in fact a dark retelling of a specific story arc of the famous Astro Boy franchise (if you don’t know Astro Boy, go dig yourself a hole and think about what you’ve done with your life). Astro Boy is normally a very positive and uplifting franchise, but Pluto brings to the universe a darker and more realistic feel, mixing in themes of noire and detective stories. This combination actually works out surprisingly well, and it makes for an incredibly engaging story. You don’t need any former knowledge of Astro Boy to read this; it’s more or less a fun fact. This story can stand on its own pretty damn well.

Status: Completed
Length: 65 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=219Alive – The Final Evolution
Taisuke Kanou leads a normal life as a high school student. Sure he ends up getting beaten up a lot while trying to defend his best friend Hirose from bullies and his other friend Megumi often scolds them for getting in trouble, but other than that Kanou has been happily content with his normal life. The world, however, began to change for the worse as a disease spreads across the world. Some as a result commit suicide, but others who resist the symptoms of the disease develop mysterious powers. In the rooftop of his school on his perfectly normal day, Kanou finds Hirose, sobbing “I didn’t do it…”

I found Alive by chance a few years ago. It came up as the recommended manga of the week, and I thought I’d try it out. This was when I was still in my relative comfort zone, not really trying other manga outside of the really popular ones like One Piece and Air Gear. Alive was, and I know I say this a lot, a breath of fresh air. Alive at first initially seems like a manga that combines elements of both the shounen and seinen genre; while Alive has a very dark and grim plot, the characters and motives of the main and supporting cast or generally rather typical. For example, there’s this one girl (of course in a school uniform) whose main motive is exact revenge on a certain power user. However, Alive continuously swirls into a darker and darker plotline. The plot becomes less one-dimensional, motives become bent, characters change drastically, and so on and so forth. Alive is a very interesting manga, and for those who want to read something new and different, Alive may come as a pleasant surprise, though perhaps not at first.

Also, despite the fact that Alive is relatively action heavy, I think it wouldn’t really do the manga much justice if I simply placed it under a tag with other straightforward action manga. While most action manga have main characters fight to gain a certain goal, for example to become the best Ninja or to conquer most of China, Alive is an adventure story of a boy trying to figure out the truth, and the battles that occur are events that impede in his way. Alive is much more of a story about character relationships than pure action.

Status: Completed
Length: 83 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=1133Dorohedoro
There exists a universe where there are two worlds, one inhabited by magic users, and another filled with slums, referred to as “The Hole.” The magic users have someone to fear in The Hole however, as there are rumors of a man with a lizard’s head accompanied by a lady who supposedly lost his real head alongside his memory due to a magic user. He hunts down magic users and bites down on their heads. When he releases them, he asks all of them the same question: “What did the guy inside my head say?”

Just a disclaimer, Dorohedoro will probably be a love it/hate it sort of manga because it has a really unique but trippy style. To start out, Dorohedoro has a very creative setting, which mixes a bit of dark fantasy with a sort of steampunk feel to it. Magic, usually seen as some kind of bright and fantastical force is instead interpreted as dark, smothering matter. The characters, instead of being drawn bright and happy, don grotesque masks and use their magic for dirty business. The magic powers themselves are not typical ones you normally see. They can range from splitting people’s bodies apart but still leaving them alive to literally having the ability to turn everything you breathe on into mushrooms. The world is violent and dark yet still has elements of dark humor here and there. The author does his best to make the world he created into something you have probably never seen or even imagined before. What complements this setting is the intensely gritty and rough art. It doesn’t look clean, and at moments it may even be difficult to tell what’s going on. But when you read it, you realize you wouldn’t draw this manga in any other way. The story itself is intriguing. Instead of focusing on one set of characters, Dorohedoro focuses on a wide variety of perspectives to the point where the reader has to question whether there is a main protagonist or antagonist. It becomes a story where different parties merge their paths into one, creating events that accelerate the story further. Dorohedoro incorporates a bit everything: thriller, humor, action, slice of life, horror, and gore, and when you read it, you might find it something different. Dorohedoro isn’t perfect by any means, but it is by far one of the most creatively written and drawn manga I’ve ever read (and the story, for the most part, is written well!), and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed by experience with it.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Monthly (?)
Length: 129 Chapters (11/20/14)

Spoiler for Comedy:

Show

http://myanimelist.net/manga/25297/Kangoku_GakuenPrison School
Hachimitsu Academy is widely known to have extremely strict policies and academic standards. However, the academy recently made a substantial change: for the first time, the academy will now accept male students. The five male students march into the school, ready to embark on their imagined springtime of love, even though the rest of the school despises their guts.

Oh god, how do I explain this? Let me start out by saying Prison School is like as close to NSFW as you can get for a manga that doesn’t actually expose any “literal” explicit content. Still, I’d recommend you not read this in public because it is INSANELY showy. The humor is very hit or miss; a lot of its humor derives on the adolescent urges that any high school boy would have and to very extreme extents. In my opinion, it’s so crazy that it’s fucking hilarious, but others might be turned off and grossed out and I could totally understand why. Just don’t have any expectations about integrity and you should do fine. Oh, who am I kidding. Even if you resist thinking that this manga has no integrity, you’ll still be blown out of this world.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Weekly
Length: 142 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/336/GTOGTO/Great Teacher Onizuka
Onizuka is a biker gang leader-turned high school teacher. Turning his past behind him, he is now a changed man. Well, sort of. Actually, not at all, he’s pretty much the same as he was before. Get ready for the class of your lives that will change everything about yourself that you’ve ever known.

GTO is like the model example of a comedy. Yes, GTO is pretty hilarious, especially because it’s over the top and makes high school, the place we all know and hate, into a ridiculous and outlandish place. But what sets GTO away from most comedies or even most manga in general is that it’s something we can relate to. Though GTO often goes to extremes, it does tackle the issue of troubled students who refuse to open up to others and teachers/schools that, despite hearing or noticing the needs of students, choose to ignore them out of self-interest. However, GTO also presents an image of a teacher that remedies those problems, and it’s refreshing to see a teacher go out of their way to help their students, an image I’m sure we’ve all had in the past in our experiences in school. GTO is a comedy, but it’s very much a touching story due to the fact that, compared to any other manga or most fictional stories in general, it’s one that we can compare to the most.

Yes, this manga does have an ongoing sequel, but it only has like ten chapters out right now. If you want to check it out, it’s called GTO: Paradise Lost.

Status: Completed
Length: 208 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/14531/GTO:_Shonan_14_DaysGTO: Shonan 14 Days
A spin-off story of GTO. A man who looks suspiciously like Onizuka is on wanted poster. Apparently it was posted during a period where Onizuka went AOL for fourteen days. What could have happened at that time?

So this is an explanation for those who know the main story but missed this one (I’m looking at you anime viewers!). Though it’s not as highly regarded as the main story and is substantially shorter, I ended up liking it equally if not more than the original story line. While the original GTO tackles problems with teachers and school life, Shonan 14 Days focuses on parental issues. Like the original, it presents a story that almost every one of us out there can relate to in some way or another. If you liked the original, then without a doubt you’ll enjoy this one.

Status: Completed
Length: 77 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/25096/Gin_no_SajiSilver Spoon
Hachiken hates his family. He wants nothing to do with them. In an attempt to create as much distance as possible, he enrolls into an agricultural high school, deep within rural Japan. As a student who’s always been excellent at studying, he believes that he should be fine and have a nice relaxing experience for once. Boy, was he wrong!

You may or may not know this already, but Silver Spoon was actually made by the same person who made Full Metal Alchemist! You wouldn’t know when you read this though since there is absolutely NO action, thriller, or [insert something that FMA had] in this manga, and the few similarities are in the art style. However, Silver Spoon is excellent. Not only is it one of the few manga that I find legitimately funny, it’s also an inspiring slice of life story that really teaches you about life outside of the city and most of all the value of hard work.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Weekly
Length: 107 Chapters (11/11/14)

Spoiler for Romance:

Show

http://myanimelist.net/manga/7519/Ka...zo_Shiru_SekaiThe World God Only Knows
Keima is not your ever day average student. He is an intense gamer. But he isn’t just any intense gamer. He’s a master of romantic visual novels. He pledges his relationships with the 2D world and boasts his skills of being able to steal the heart of any 2D soul. One day, a devil named Elsie stops by his room. Apparently there are many runaway souls in the real world, hiding in the hearts of girls. The only way to bring them out is by making them fall in love. Elsie tasks Keima with the ultimate task: retrieve as many souls as possible by making girls fall in love with him, and failure means death.

The World God Only Knows is a rare example of a somewhat typical shounen and harem manga done right. It has by today’s standards a somewhat typical romance/harem plot, but The World God Only Knows performs this genre in a very good way. Rather than trying to avoid clichés, TWGOK embraces them; it uses typical character archetypes that you may find in, say, romance video games, and applies them to real life. But each encounter always combines with a real life twist. Thus Keima is forced to combine both his real life and ridiculous video gaming skills to accomplish his task, often with added hilarity. However, if it was simply this quality that made TWGOK different, it’d only make it average at best. What TWGOK does, and this is what many harem manga fail in, is establish both a goal and a focus on the main MC instead of digressing too much. Many harem manga fall into these doldrums where nothing is really accomplished and nothing happens. This manga on the other hand develops Keima’s personality as he interacts more and more with the outside world and the supporting characters that Keima meets on the way. That way, the story always feels like it’s going somewhere and that each character has some kind of relevant importance to the story. Most of all, unlike other harem stories which kind of touches on romance but never really goes into a full relationship, TWGOK explores areas where actual love is involved rather than adolescent crushes followed by short stories. This is what makes TWGOK special; it feels much more complete, engaging, and overall much less wishy-washy than your typical harem.

Status: Completed
Length: 271 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/31499/NisekoiNisekoi
Raku can’t seem to get the guts to tell his crush, Onodera, that he likes her. But he trusts it in himself that he’ll tell her one day. Of course, that’s all ruined one day when his father sets him up with a violent transfer student that he ran into the other day.

Nisekoi is a good example of normal harem/romance story in the shounen genre. If you’re looking for a gateway manga into the romance genre, Nisekoi is a good starting place. I definitely think most people would enjoy the first 50 or 60 or so chapters, but after that it gets insanely repetitive. Just warning you all.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Weekly
Length: 146 Chapters (11/11/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/8144/Sora_no_OtoshimonoSora no Otoshimo
Tomoki constantly has dreams at night and would wake up in tears. This bothers him, since all he wants is to have a normal, peaceful life. While waiting for his friends beneath a sakura tree and contemplating about the meaning of his dreams, an angel flies down in front of him.

I was debating whether or not I should actually put this under comedy or romance. It has its fair share of both, but Sora no Otoshimo is pretty outlandish. What separates this manga from the typical harem is that the main character is a straight up perverted asshole, and he knows it. In fact, he embraces this image that other characters have given him and uses it as his defining quality. But while he’s an asshole, sometimes it’s hard to dislike him, since he’s just so damn hilarious and fights against the so-called nice boys of his school. In contrast to other MCs in harems, the main character of Sora is not liked, in fact he is despised by almost every girl. And throw a little supernatural in there with the angels and all, and you’ve got an MC with a bit too much free time. The author also has an excellent sense of pacing; each chapter seemingly has some meaning to the overall story, and there’s added drama and comedy within each chapter. However, nothing seems surprising or out of place, the atmosphere that Sora sets up is consistent, and when there does happen to be a sudden change in mood, it actually doesn’t seem to be that out of place. The best way to explain Sora no Otoshimo is that it’s extremely childish but in such a way that it has an alluring charm to it. It presents a very colorful cast of characters where not a single one is unlikable, and thus creates, with all these elements, a great story.

Also, this is one of those manga where I feel the reviews on myanimelist.net (specifically the first one) summed up this manga much better than I did.

Status: Completed
Length: 97 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=35003Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo
Yamada is the very definition of a delinquent; he always shows up late to class, he has abysmal grades, and he causes trouble around school. Shiraishi in contrast is Yamada’s polar opposite. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s quiet, composed, and has excellent grades. However, one day, on a whim, they suddenly switch bodies!

Don’t worry, if you don’t like gender bender manga where male and female bodies switch, it only stays like that temporarily. I’d present this manga the same way I presented Nisekoi; it’s a very good gateway manga into the romance genre, but I don’t think that Yamada-kun is an amazing manga. That being said, I do think it’s noticeably better than Nisekoi in the sense that it has an established plot and the characters are both likable and creative. The art style is also drastically different than most manga in my opinion, and in a good way.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Weekly
Length: 133 Chapters (11/11/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/56805/Koe_no_KatachiKoe no Katachi
Shouya is a bully but he didn’t really know it, even after bullying the deaf girl Nishimiya Shouko to the point where she dropped out of school. But he soon came to realize how much of a bully he was after his fellow bullies turned against him after becoming the main source of blame for Shouko’s absence. That was elementary school. Shouya is in high school now, and his only drive now is to walk in his path of redemption.

I first read Koe no Kitachi as a one shot a year before the manga became published and before it was even announced that Koe no Kitachi would even become a serialized manga. I thought that it was a brilliant, touching story. But I had my doubts when I heard that it was become a series. I could only see how they could ruin it more than the author could do justice. Once again, I was wrong. Koe no Kitachi starts off with excellent chapters, but Koe no Kitachi’s goal was to still keep the series intact and consistent, even after the time jump. It accomplished this very well. Shouya’s character was brilliantly designed. His character wasn’t made to fit a determined character with changed motives; it presented a boy going through a conflicted teenage hood, unsure if what he’s doing is the right thing. Shouya is nowhere near one-dimensional; he is complex and reflects the mindset of a high school boy. However, it isn’t just Shouya; many characters in Koe no Kitachi are all complex in varying degrees, and it makes the story seem much more realistic and relatable. It’s a very touching story, and I’d recommend definitely recommend it for the more mature audience.

Yes, my explanation is that short because there really isn’t much to say. And yes, this is a doujinshi (self-published manga). And no, no molesting actually happens; the title is just a satirical poke to a misunderstanding.

While many romance manga creates scenarios that are often over the top, cliché, and overall very boring and typical to forward the relationship between characters by trying to overcome the trials that come in their way, Molester Man focuses on seemingly meaningless interactions and events. It’s a manga that sincerely tries to be itself; it isn’t designed to appeal to an audience, but rather uses the author’s own personal thoughts, emotions, and (occasionally awful) humor to give the manga a personality. It tackles the moments of everyday life and how people can create the most significant and insignificant messages from such small occurrences. In addition, each character is very realistic. For example, the main character isn’t consistent in a sense. He chooses actions based on their consequences and knows whether each action is necessarily good or bad. He is neither a good nor completely bad character. Each character actually feels real and alive rather than just simplistic images of personalities that in fact have no personality at all. This is all accompanied by the fact that Molester Man, in its core, is based on a true story. It makes the story feel that much more alive, and it makes possibly the most un-supernatural manga ever created feel very magical and enchanted. Simply put, it’s amazingly well-done.

Let me start off this section by saying that this genre is more or less a branch off of the ‘ol slice of life genre. However, slice of life manga tend to emphasize a plot that has no real direction and only creates short stories for the sake of giving either an enjoyable story or to send out a message (and there’s nothing wrong with those kind of manga). But the manga listed below are generally different. Most of these do happen to fall under slice of life, but the stories and development that happen in each of them are substantial enough where they focus on an entirely different subject matter entirely in my opinion. And that itself is the development of the main character. As a result, Coming of Age stories tend to tackle much more mature and serious themes, often even dark and depressing ones, so be prepared if this is outside of your comfort zone. Without further ado, here is the Coming of Age section!

http://myanimelist.net/manga/4632/Oyasumi_PunpunOyasumi Punpun
Punpun is an ordinary boy growing up in the roaring country of Japan. Through his experience growing up, Punpun faces various trials and turbulences that shape and teach him about what exactly it means to be an adult.

As usual, I need a preface for this one. First, Oyasumi Punpun is about as abstract as you can get for a manga. The art style and direction is insanely different from what you’ve generally seen before in manga. All characters and backgrounds are drawn with impeccable detail and thoroughness. However, Punpun, the main character, is purposely drawn roughly and in an incredibly simply way. In addition, Oyasumi Punpun likes to add in art that seems completely out of place to the point where you feel like you’re on drugs. In short: this manga is very trippy.
Two, Oyasumi Punpun is, as kindly demonstrated by our favorite local user Youwishjellyfish, very hit and miss. It is very much a slice of life manga. It follows Punpun’s life from a child all the way to a teenager in great detail, and to some this may be endearing and boring. Oyasumi Punpun doesn’t always focus on Punpun either, and some may feel more attached to these side stories rather than the main story itself. It’s very easy to not like Oyasumi Punpun simply because it has such a weird style.
Third, Oyasumi Punpun, despite looking childish in its cover, deals with very, very mature content. It is very dark, depressing, and disturbing. If you can get past that, you may find yourself facing one of the most deep stories out there that you can find about how much a child can change based on the environment he was raised in. It’s a very detailed write up of what the mind of child must be like, and the main character as a result goes through incredible development. Oyasumi Punpun has been stated many times in the past to be a work of art. Be warned though, you may feel differently.

Just to give a sense of how different opinions can be on this piece, here’s Youwishjellyfish’s satirical editing of my post in quote form.

Originally Posted by Youwishjellyfish

As usual, I need a preface for this one. First, Oyasumi Punpun is about as pretentious as you can get for a manga.

Two, Oyasumi Punpun is, as kindly demonstrated by our favorite local user Youwishjellyfish, a masturbatory work in which the artist wants the audience to suck his dick for this bloated plot-hole ridden piece of shit.

Status: Completed
Length: 147 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/401/KiseijuuParasyte
The parasites that invaded the human bodies are not of this earth. They can turn into weapons of mass destruction. They feed on human flesh. Worst of all, they can look just like us. However, only high school student Shinichi knows due to a failed attempt of a parasite trying to take over his body and only took possession of his right hand. In his right hand now lives a parasitic life form, and it is then Shinichi realizes how much trouble his life is in.

Parasyte often comes up in two groups: people who absolutely adore this manga, or people who have never heard of it at all. Parasyte is a classic when it comes to thriller/horror manga. However, what makes it stands out is that its best quality is not being a thriller/horror manga, but rather being a well-developed coming of age story about Shinichi. While Parayste is full of action, it’s more accurate to say that Parasyte deals with real issues that the main character has trying to coexist and/or deal with the aliens. In that sense, it makes it a unique piece of work that allows for a different approach to a common genre.

Rainbow might have a different style than what most people are typically used to. For a manga, there is a surprising amount of narration and long text boxes, not to mention the art is rough but also very detailed. Regardless, Rainbow is a touching manga about friendship and shows the horror of what it is like to live in a prison in early 20th century Japan. It has however been criticized for being a tad bit unrealistic.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: ???
Length: 117 Chapters (11/11/14)

http://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/manga/2/56431.jpgHoshi no Samidare
The world is on the verge of destruction. Sensing the dangers, animal knights are spread across the world in order to gather warriors to destroy the impending “biscuit hammer” and seek out the princess that will help the warriors fight. Sir Noi, the Lizard Knight, finds Yuuhi and hopes he’ll make a suitable candidate. However, Yuuhi wants no part of this battle. To make matters worse, it turns out the princess isn’t so much of a role model either!

Despite being somewhat of a shounen title, it is of my opinion that Hoshi no Samidare is criminally underrated. And while I could have placed this title in the action section, I thought it fit better in here. While Hoshi no Samidare has its fair share of fight scenes, it focuses much more on character interactions and how they grow in each other’s company and how the end of the world shapes the personalities around. Many people might turn their heads on the first few chapters, but afterwards it’s just a burst of quality. I highly recommend this one, and I feel that readers new and old to manga can still enjoy this one greatly.

This manga is also referred to as Wakusei no Samidare for those who are having trouble searching for this piece online.

Status: Completed
Length: 65 chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/30079/AnnarasumanaraAnnarasumanaraNote: This type of graphic novel is referred to as a webtoon, which itself is a type of manhwa, Korea’s counterpart to Japan’s manga. Unlike manga and typical manhwa, webtoons are not hand drawn; they are instead drawn using computer programs. As a result, the art styles may look more digitized and they will almost always appear in color.

Rumor has it that there’s a magician that lives in the abandoned amusement park on top of the hill. Yoon Ahee becomes naturally attracted to this enigma as she searches for a change in her life.

(I’ll abbreviate Annarasumanara to just Anna for the sake of simplicity) Anna at first seems like a generic romance manhwa that focuses on sort of common angst-ish themes. However, the manhwa proves to be much more than just that. For a piece of work that contains dusk and dark colors, the story of Anna is surprisingly colorful and a delightful ride for anyone who wants to enjoy a good coming of age story. This is definitely one of if not the best manhwa that exists as of now.

Status: Completed
Length: 27 chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=9711Bakuman
A boy named Mashiro once had the dream to be a great mangaka, but he soon abandoned it after the death of his uncle, his inspiration. One day, fellow classmate and writer Takagi intercepts him in at school after glancing at Mashiro’s drawing of his crush, Azuki. This meeting would soon change their lives and start a grand adventure in the world of manga filled with sweat, love, betrayal, and loyalty.

Brought to you by the same man who made Hikaru no Go and Death Note, Bakuman is what some would say to be one of the most important manga out there. They’re not completely wrong either. While I can’t judge how much of Bakuman is accurate, it does demonstrate a great deal of the normal life of a mangaka. With this scope, it may change the way you think about future manga and how they’re made, what the authors are like, and how they move from piece to piece. Generally, if you want to fundamentally understand how the manga business works in Japan, Bakuman is a great place to start. Aside from the details, Bakuman, for manga that contains no action, is incredibly intense. Through simple character interactions and the pursuit of a dream, Bakuman was able to craft an excellent story with many tense moments. Definitely would recommend, especially for new readers.

Status: Completed
Length: 176 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/28393/Sakamichi_no_ApollonSakamichi no Apollon
In the mid-20th century, there is a town, a peaceful town filled with your normal spring bliss and sound. In this town, Tokyo native Nishimi Kaoru watches his world change when he meets local delinquent Kawabuchi Sentaro who was playing Jazz in the local record store.

Some manga choose to write about action. Others tend to focus on romance. Sakamichi no Apollon tackles another topic that’s surprisingly underexposed: friendship. Now you may think, “Well that’s not true, manga like One Piece focus on friendship all the time.” However, Sakamichi no Apollon chooses it as its central focus and develops its story around that, and it’s done in a masterful way. Rather than being a story about two lovers developing their relationship with each other, Sakamichi no Apollon is a story about two friends from two different backgrounds who meet and develop a bond. It’s a truly touching story that shows what exactly it means to be a friend.

Status: Completed
Length: 45 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/8967/On...aster_KurosawaOnanie Master Kurosawa
Kakeru is an antisocial high school student. He thinks that everyone in his school is pathetic, and he constantly looks down on all of them. However, he also has a peculiar behavior: he goes into the rarely used girl’s washroom on the third floor and masturbates in the stall, often engaging in fantasies of his classmates. However, he’s caught by fellow classmate Aya one day, a girl who’s constantly bullied. And thus the ultimate story of blackmail, love, heartbreak, and revenge begins.

I need to preface this recommendation with a few things. First, don’t be turned off by the description! Yes it sounds really weird, but the story is well-developed and has an excellently designed cast of characters. Two, Onanie Master Kurosawa is actually a doujinshi, not an official manga. Doujinshi are self-published manga. You can see them as “indie” manga so to speak. As a result, doujinshi tend to be of varying qualities, for example ranging from excellently drawn art to completely poorly written. In Onanie Master Kurosawa’s case, the art isn’t very clean and isn’t exactly “professional.” However, this gritty style actually fits in really well with the type of story that Onanie Master Kurosawa is, which brings me to my third and final point: Onanie Master Kurosawa is not a comedy; it is dark and is clearly meant for more mature audiences and not geared at all to those who are used to the shounen genre.

With all that being said, this doujinshi came up as a surprise for me. It was very highly rated on MAL for whatever reason, so I decided to give it a try. This story absolutely blew me away, and to this day I still think it’s one of the best romance/coming of age stories that I have ever read. I don’t have a concise explanation that I can give aside from what I’ve already said if you haven’t read it yet, but I assure that you will enjoy this one.

Status: Completed
Length: 31 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/657/RealReal
Real follows the story of three social outcasts all affected by tragic accidents that changed their lives forever. Despite their setbacks, they all are unable to let go of their one desire: Basketball.

There’s this type of sub-category of the sports genre that I’ve heard about, but I’ve never actually read any manga that fit under this sub-category until I came across Real. That sub-category is this: it’s a sports manga that’s not actually about sports. That’s right, Real is a basketball manga that’s not actually about basketball. Real instead focuses on the characters around the sport and what brought and ripped them from the sport itself. However, what also sets Real apart is that it centralizes its plot on a theme that many pieces of realistic fiction don’t really mention, and that’s the issue of disabilities. This theme sets both the tone and the message for Real, crafting not only an amazing emotional ballad but also a reveal about the life of a person who lost the ability to walk. You may be surprised to hear that the author of Real is the very same author who wrote the famous shounen sports manga Slam Dunk. However, Real is by far his most mature and accomplished manga, despite flying under the shadow of Slam Dunk and being much shorter as a whole.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Painfully Long
Length: 80 Chapters (11/11/14)

Spoiler for Sports:

Show

Hikaru no Go
By chance, Hikaru stumbles across a haunted Go board that in reality contains the spirit of a Ghost named Sai who takes refuge in Hikaru’s consciousness. Hikaru, who previously had no interest in board games, finds himself creating and chasing a dream to become the greatest Go player in Japan.

Whether or not you think Go shouldn’t be considered a sport, the author does a damn good job making it feel just as intense as one. Hikaru no Go is interesting for this very reason; not many people actually know the fundamentals of Go itself, and Hikaru no Go dives into that topic while also revealing other aspects of its play, including the intense concentration and stress necessary for playing this game. You may be surprised that the author of this manga is the very same person who wrote Death Note, but you really can see that the thrills that you get from both are strangely similar at times.

Status: Completed
Length: 197 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=43Eyeshield 21
Sena has always been running away from bullies for all of his life. But local football captain Hiruma sees different potential in him. Forcibly recruited as the teams running back and star player, Sena becomes one step closer in becoming sucked into the magical world of high school football.

The sports genre is often known for being overly dramatic, awfully repetitive, and overall badly written. As a result, manga of this genre are often not really seen as anything above mediocre. However, Eyeshield 21 fits under only one of these categories, and that it is the manga is indeed overly dramatic, so much to the point where I would call it the DBZ in a sports manga. But part of that over-the-top, unrealistic vibe gives Eyeshield 21 its robust and crazy character. The manga itself is incredibly colorful and full of personality while also being downright hilarious and intense. Yes, Eyeshield 21 is shounen and yes, if you’re a fan of football, this manga will come off as incredibly unrealistic. However, Eyeshield 21 is a master of both storytelling and making its cast of characters feel alive and full of emotion. If other more appreciated sports manga fall under the category of being more mature and different, Eyeshield 21 stands on top of a lost genre that presents itself as what other sports manga could have been.

Status: Completed
Length: 333 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/45757/Shokugeki_no_SoumaShokugeki no Soma
There lies a culinary school in the heart of Japan that stands upon the most legendary of cooking schools in the world, and only 10% of a student class can graduate and succeed in the future. Among all the successful students who traveled from across the world to attend this school, enter Souma, a boy who works at a small Japanese restaurant on a street in Tokyo.

Cooking isn’t a sport. But it damn sure is when you look at a show like Iron Chef on the food channel. And that’s essentially what Shokugeki no Soma is; it’s an over-the-top cooking manga that incorporates elements of the sports genre into its plot. But that’s not always a good thing, and sometimes it shows. Shokugeki no Soma doesn’t have an amazing cast of characters nor does it have an amazing story or plot. However, what it does shine in is making the contests as creative and amazing looking as possible. By presenting each character with cooking and culinary challenges to make food it still makes for a compelling story. Also did I mention that the food looks fucking mouth-wateringly gorgeous? Jesus Christ.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Weekly
Length: 93 Chapters (11/11/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/11327/One_OutsOne Outs
Kojima is an amazing baseball player, but he always seems to be shackled by his failing team, the Lyacons. On the brink of his retirement, he trains in Okinawa only to find a player named Toa Tokuchi, playing a gambling baseball sport, One Outs. Kojima begs him to play on the Lyacons team and Tokuchi accepts under one condition: he gets 5 million yen for every out he pitches, but loses 50 million yen for every point that he gives up.

First things first, One Outs is made by the same guy who wrote Liar Game, and that in itself should tell you the tone of the manga. And you’re right, One Outs is a sports manga about baseball, but it’s very relevant to the concept of gambling as well. It’s an incredibly clever manga that not only focuses and Tokuchi’s pitching abilities but the way he manipulates the game. It’s a really unique way of writing about the sports genre, and its creativity should not be underestimated.

If you choose to read this on a scanlated site like mangahere or kissmanga, you will find that these scanlators purposefully left a huge gap between chapters 32 and 54 and chapters 62 and 82. This is mean to encourage readers to watch the anime, so if you want to fill in the holes of the manga, take a look at the One Outs anime. The manga goes farther the ending of the anime, so you don't need to worry about being addicted.

Status: Completed
Length: 175 Chapters

Spoiler for Slice of Life:

Show

What is slice of life?
If you’re new to manga and anime, the term “slice of life” may be foreign to you. Even some veterans well-versed in anime/manga can’t properly define “slice of life,” the reason being because it’s such a diverse, flexible genre. In essence though, the slice of life genre generally refers to any manga that cycles through everyday events and activities, sometimes to demonstrate a message or to tell a short story, that doesn’t ultimately add up or lead to any specific plot. For example, one chapter may focus on John Doe buying a pie from Jane Doe and the trial and tribulations he had on the way there, while the next chapter may involve Jane Doe inviting John Doe to her house to watch over a cat she found on the street. Slice of life themed manga tend have peaceful and mellow tones, and others may share deep, tear-jerking stories. However, manga that centers on the slice of life genre also don’t have a specific plot, so don’t expect a complex, long-winded story when you start one of these titles.

http://myanimelist.net/manga/670/BokuranoBokurano
“When we entered middle school, we thought we were adults. We thought we could do anything. We cried, laughed, screamed; we thought we knew everything about the world. But we were really just kids, protected by our parents and sheltered by society. There was no true sadness, true joy, true anger in our everyday lives. This we learned when the fifteen of us came together, yes, when we encountered it.” – The opening lines of Bokurano

Let me just go ahead and say that Bokurano is easily one of if not the most depressing pieces of fiction that I have ever read in my entire life. After you finish reading it, it really makes you feel down about your life and makes you want to cry. With that out of the way, Bokurano is a brilliantly emotional story that deconstructs the Mecha genre. It’s an incredibly compelling story, and despite being more of a slice of life manga, it’s extremely difficult to put this piece down after you start it.

Status: Completed
Length: 66 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=11514Otoyomegatari
A Bride's Story tells the tale of a beautiful young bride in nineteenth-century Asia. At the age of twenty, Amir is sent to a neighboring town to be wed. But her surprise at learning her new husband, Karluk, is eight years younger than her is quickly replaced by a deep affection for the boy and his family. Though she hails from just beyond the mountains, Amir's clan had very different customs, foods, and clothes from what Karluk is used to. As the two of them learn more about each other through their day-to-day lives, the bond of respect and love grows stronger. (source: MAL)

This is one of the few manga on here that I’ve actually never read. That isn’t entirely correct though, I tried it but the manga didn’t suit to my tastes. It mixes historical themes with the slice of life genre, and that’s not really my sort of thing. That being said, Otoyomegatari gets insane praise and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. If you’re into slice of life manga, you are sure to love this one then.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Usually Monthly
Length: 40 Chapters (11/24/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/8446/Ik...Ultimate_LimitIkigami
In an attempt to reform and essentially “wake up” Japanese society from their lazy natures, the Japanese government created a program in which one Japanese citizen each day would be randomly chosen to die. Each of these people would receive a notice if they only have 24 more hours to live. These are stories of men and women who, after receiving these notices, decide what to do with their lives, whether it means accepting or rejecting their fate.

I’ve stated many times before that there are some criminally underrated manga out there, but if I were to create a list, than Ikigami would easily be in the top 5. Ikigami doesn’t really have a set plot; it does have a background plot, but you’ll find yourself focusing on the individual short stories that Ikigami presents. Each story is lush with emotion and detail, and you can’t help but feel empathetic and pity towards their stories. Ikigami has powerful and emotional tales where, after every story, you can find yourself relating to each new character presented, perhaps because you may always subconsciously think, “what would I do if I were in his shoes?”

Status: Completed, but not fully uploaded on scanlation sites
Rate: At this rate, it’ll probably never be updated again
Length: 36 Chapters (11/24/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/3713/BartenderBartender
“In happy times, one cocktail is enough, because anything you drink will taste good. But if there are a hundred shapes of unhappiness, I want to be a bartender who will make a hundred cocktails to soothe unhappiness.” – Bartender

I’m no bartender myself nor do I know anyone of the profession, so I’m not entirely certain on how accurate Bartender is. Regardless, it has a peaceful and soothing set of stories in which a bartender serves drinks to his customers to soothe their worries occasionally taking challenges from his customers. It’s an interesting take on how these kinds of manga should be portrayed, and while it’s style of writing and stories is not appealing to everyone, it is still great for anyone who enjoys the slice of life genre.

http://myanimelist.net/manga/40345/Dr._FrostDr. FrostNote: This type of graphic novel is referred to as a webtoon, which itself is a type of manhwa, Korea’s counterpart to Japan’s manga. Unlike manga and typical manhwa, webtoons are not hand drawn; they are instead drawn using computer programs. As a result, the art styles may look more digitized and they will almost always appear in color.

People seek help every day. It can be something has important as possible, or something as trivial as the wind. Regardless, to seek help, we entrust others with our various belongings: money, construction. And education. Without this trust, no help would be received nor given. However, could we readily so trust people with our minds?

Dr. Frost isn’t a complete slice of life per se, but it certainly doesn’t have a central plot either. Aside from that, Dr. Frost is a very interesting manga. Similar to TV shows like House or CSI, Dr. Frost focuses on a doctor who fixes the problems of those who consult to his office, usually through whatever professional psychiatric experience he has. What makes Dr. Frost stand out are the lengths the author goes through in order to make each story as believable and realistic as possible, often involving sifting through many books and documents and consulting to professional psychiatrists to look over his storyboards. Through his efforts, each story seems unique, fresh, and generally unlike anything you’ve seen before. You may not find a set plot in Dr. Frost, but you most definitely will find a new experience.

Status: Ongoing
Rate: Don’t bet on it
Length: 88 Chapters (11/24/14)

http://myanimelist.net/manga/21419/Nozoki_AnaNozoki Ana
Tatsuhiko Kido, a vocational/technical school student who's staying in his school's dorms, one day discovers a hole in the wall of his apartment room. He peeks through the hole, but when he does so, he sees his neighbor, Ikuno Emiru, masturbating and he's caught peeking! However, when he goes over to inform her of the hole in the wall, she shuts the door in his face. Luckily for him, he's able to stop the door from closing and pursues after her, but, in his haste, he trips and lands right on top of her. As luck would have it, she takes a picture of them in a compromising position and tries to blackmail him into getting naked?! (source: MAL)

For starters, Nozoki Ana is pretty NSFW. This time I really mean it, there are quite a few sex scenes in this manga. Second, I never actually finished Nozoki Ana; I started it years ago and read up until the latest chapter and stopped, and eventually I forgot about it. Regardless, Nozoki Ana is a solid romance/slice of life story of a college student. Despite the weird setting, Nozoki Ana is actually brimmed with strong, real emotions like love and betrayal, and the fact that the manga isn’t afraid to show sex scenes makes the manga feel more realistic. In essence, Nozoki Ana is defined by two of its strongest qualities: the raw emotions that it can provoke, and the boldness of the author in general. If you’re looking for a solid slice of life story that incorporates lots of love themes, then Nozoki Ana is a good choice. Just don’t get caught in public!

Status: Completed
Length: 117 Chapters

http://myanimelist.net/manga/1512/Angel_HeartAngel Heart
A Taiwanese assassin codenamed “Glass Heart” attempted to commit suicide. Sustaining major heart injuries, her organization did everything they could to keep her alive. For her survival, she received a heart transplant from the Kaori Makimura, the former partner of the legendary “City Hunter.” The deep urban night calls for her name…

Angel Heart is placed in an alternate universe of the famed classic, “City Hunter,” only that the female protagonist, Kaori Makimura, had passed away due to an accident and now resides as the heart of the main character of Angel Heart. You don’t have to know or read City Hunter to enjoy Angel Heart though; you can treat it more as backstory and prequel to Angel Heart, though the two aren’t direct sequels. What makes Angel Heart interesting is that it combines these episodic moments of the urban lifestyle while incorporating elements of slice of life and coming of age themes through the main character’s development as she’s adapting to real life society. The story can be both cute and sorrowful, and the characters are just downright lovable. It’s really too bad that no one bothers to update this one anymore, but you can enjoy it for what it has out right now.

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=50027Regarding DeathNote: This type of graphic novel is referred to as a webtoon, which itself is a type of manhwa, Korea’s counterpart to Japan’s manga. Unlike manga and typical manhwa, webtoons are not hand drawn; they are instead drawn using computer programs. As a result, the art styles may look more digitized and they will almost always appear in color.

Regarding Death tackles a series of stories in which God speaks to those who lie on the verge of life or death or in spaces far or behind.

As you’d expect, Regarding Death is a collection of short stories that are tragic, beautiful, and tear-jerking. Many of its stories are excellently written, and some really pulls on your heart strings. There isn’t much to say other than that since Regarding Death has nothing to call a plot; true to the slice of life genre, it would be closer to call Regarding Death as a series of short stories, but very emotional ones at that.

Memories of Emanon is actually a short story. It only has one volume with only eight chapters within it. However, Memories of Emanon happens to craft a wonderful story in simply eight chapters. This girl, Emanon, is in my opinion one of the most enchanting and mysterious characters I have ever seen in a story. She tells of her amazing memory of when life on earth began to this sci-fi crazed boy. Their interaction, though simple, is amazingly detailed and well-drawn. And when you put down this manga and juxtapose it with any other piece, you will change your mindset from “It’s only eight chapters” to “It’s amazing the author could do create this in just eight chapters.”

anyways, dont take any of index's anime recommendations, judging by every avatar and signature hes had since he joined, his taste in japanese animes is pure shit filth

I actually have excellent, refined tastes; you're probably a pleb who circlejerks over Cowboy Bebop and other Adult Swim entry-level shit over and over. I choose moe material for my avatars and whatnot, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I fail to recognize the series in correspondence with each girl as shit. The MAL analyzer thing says my most hated genres are harem and ecchi, despite the fact that I was a lot of it. I'm just able to recognize that it's nearly all mediocre, proving my connoisseur-level tastes. It says my favorite genres are sci-fi, mystery, and drama. To appreciate truly good anime over moe, you have to watch it and experience the writing, development, characterization and whatnot— something impossible from just seeing a picture of a character. However, with moe, you can just look at a picture of the moe character and get a good portion of the moe feeling the series was created to give. So, avatars are much more successful and pleasurable when they depict something cute rather than something from a "good" series.